MsLatté’s Daebak Cybercafé (Kdrama addicts #32): Spring is in the air, it’s blossom season and the BinJin wedding was lovely. Happiness abounds!

[boatyardblues]

A quiet corner of MN for serious addicts of Kdrama, or the K-curious. Most of our viewing is drawn from Netflix and Viki, with a sprinkling of AmazonPrime, AppleTV and Disney+. There are also platforms streaming content illegally if you go looking. We don’t actively promote them as they are peppered with pop-ups of “Olga” and friends offering a good time, but we can point you in the right direction. We also dip into Japanese, Taiwanese & Chinese drama as & when.

The previous thread is here but our list is cumulative so includes recommendations and favourites from all previous threads.


Shows marked with an asterisk are more uniformly loved or admired. In categorising series, its important to note most Korean dramas have multiple strands - e.g. supernatural, romance and a thriller; crime series with fantasy elements. Genre-busting mash-ups are normal. Series that are tagged as dark may also have moments of comedy or the absurd, likewise fluff can have heavier moments. Writer/actor Simon Pegg referred to it fondly as “tonal chaos” - it’s part of kdrama’s charm. View the categories below as best approximate & ask if you need guidance about suitability for younger viewers.

Comedy (with a side order of absurd)
I picked up a celebrity on the street (Viki)
My Fellow Citizens (Viki/Netflix)
The Fiery Priest (Netflix)

Crime/Thriller

Come and Hug Me (Dramafast)
Graceful Family (Viki)
Healer (Netflix)*
Heartless City (Viki)
He is Psychometric (Viki)
I Hear Your Voice (Netflix /Viki)

Life on Mars (classy remake of BBC series, no major site yet)
My Name (Netflix)
My Secret Terrius (Netflix)*
Signal (Netflix)*
Snowdrop (Disney+)
Stranger - 2 seasons (Netflix)
Suspicious Partner (Netflix)*
The Lies Within (Netflix)*
Tunnel (Netflix)*

Historical/Period drama (“sageuk”)
100 Days My Prince (Viki/Netflix)
Crowned Clown (Viki/Netflix)*
Mr Queen (Viki)*
Mr Sunshine (Netflix)
Pachinko (AppleTV)
Rookie Historian Goo Hae-Ryung (Netflix)
Tale of Nokdu (Viki/Netflix)*
The King’s Affection (Netflix)
The Red Sleeve (Viki)*

Romance - lighter & fluffier
Beating Again (Netflix)
Business Proposal (Netflix)
Coffee Prince (Netflix)
Dali & the Cocky Prince (Viki)
Don’t Dare to Dream (Netflix, or as Jealousy Incarnate on Viki)*
Gogh, The Starry Night (Viki)

Happy Once Again (Netflix)
Her Private Life (Viki)*

His Master’s Sun (Netflix)
Hometown Cha Cha Cha (Viki)*
Love from a Star (Netflix)*
Lovestruck in the City (Netflix)
Monthly Magazine Home (Viki)
Pinocchio (Netflix)
Radio Romance (Netflix)

Romance is the Bonus Book (Netflix)*
Run On (Netflix)

She Was Pretty (Netflix)*
The Beauty Inside (Viki/Netflix)
The Secret Life of My Secretary (Viki/Netflix)
Thirty Not Seventeen (Viki) or as Still 17 (Netflix)
To My Star [BL] (Viki)
True Beauty (Viki)
Twenty-five Twenty-one (Netflix)*
Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo (Netflix/Viki)

What’s Up With Secretary Kim (Viki)*
Where Stars Land (Viki)*
You are my Destiny (Netflix)
You Make Me Dance [BL] (Viki)
Yumi’s Cells (Viki)


Romance - heavier weight/more grown up themes
Another Miss Oh (Netflix)*
Because This Is My First Life (Viki/Netflix)*

Chicago Typewriter (Viki/Netflix)*
Crash Landing on You (Netflix)**
Descendants of the Sun (Viki/Netflix)
Doctors (Netflix)
Doom At Your Service (Viki)
Fight For My Way (Viki/Netflix)*
Go Back Couple (Viki)/Couple on the Backtrack (Netflix)
I’ll Go To You When The Weather is Nice (Viki)
It’s OK Not To Be OK (Netflix)

Just Between Lovers (Viki)/Rain or Shine (Netflix)*
Mad For Each Other (Netflix)*
Melo is my Nature (Viki)/Be Melodramatic (other sites)*
My Strange Hero (Viki)
One Spring Night (Netflix)
Red Carpet - film (Netflix, very adult content)
Romantic Dr Kim - seasons 1&2 (Viki)
Search: WWW (Viki, Netflix)*

Something in the Rain (Netflix)
The Handmaid (film, Netflix - content warning: explicit sexual content)
The Package (Viki)

Straighter ‘Slice of Life’ dramas on universal themes
Hospital Playlist (Netflix)*
Hospital Playlist 2 (Netflix)*
Into The Ring (Viki)
Itaewon Class (Netflix)
Live (Netflix)
Misaeng (Netflix)*
Move to Heaven (Netflix)
My Mister (Viki/Netflix)*
My Unfamiliar Family (Viki)*
Navillera (Netflix)*
Prison Playbook (Netflix)*

On The Verge of Insanity (Viki)
Once Again (Viki)
Stove League (Viki)/Hot Stove League (Netflix)
Racket Boys (Netflix)
Would You Like a Cup of Coffee (Viki)*

Supernatural/zombies/vampires/fantasy/sci-fi - lighter & fluffier
Extraordinary You (Netflix)
Goblin (Viki)*

I am not a Robot (Netflix)
Legend of the Blue Sea (Viki/Netflix)
Kiss Goblin (Viki, webdrama)
My Holo Love (Netflix)*
Orange Marmalade (Netflix)
While You Were Sleeping (Viki)*



Supernatural/zombies/vampires/fantasy/sci-fi - darker/more grown up themes
#Alive (Netflix)
Black (Netflix)*
Happiness* (Viki)
Hotel del Luna (Viki/Netflix)*
King: The Eternal Monarch (Netflix)
Kingdom (Netflix)*
Kingdom: Ashin of the North (Netflix)
Mystic Pop-up Bar (Netflix)
Peninsula - film, Train to Busan sequel (Amazon Prime, iMovies)
Sisyphus (Netflix)
The Guest (Netflix)
Train to Busan - film (Amazon Prime)

W: Two Worlds (Viki & Netflix)*
Zombie Detective (Viki/Netflix)


Guilty Pleasures (for the joy, not the quality)
Bride of Habaek (Netflix)
Hwarang (Viki/Netflix)
My Secret Romance (Viki)
The Last Empress (Viki/Netflix)
Sassy Go Go (Netflix)



Mad as a box of frogs/uncategorisable

Strong Girl Bong Soon (Netflix)
School Nurse Files (Netflix)

Not Korean ‘You May Also Like’
Regulars also branch out into Japanese, Taiwanese and Chinese drama. The Chinese & Taiwanese stuff is much more variable quality-wise, so we’ve noted anything decent here:

Before We Get Married (Viki - Taiwanese)
Find Yourself (Netflix - Chinese)
Go Go Squid (Viki - Chinese)
In House Marriage Honey (Viki, Japanese)
In Time With You (Viki - Japanese)
Instead of Tipsy Why Not Get Drunk (Viki, Chinese)
Lost Romance (Viki, Taiwanese)
Love O2O (Viki, Chinese)
Million Yen Women (Netflix, Japanese)
Morning Call (Netflix, Japanese)
My Little Happiness (Viki, Chinese)
Put Your Head on My Shoulder (Netflix, Chinese)
Rinko Wants To Try (Viki)
Some Day or One Day (Viki, Taiwanese)
The Romance of Tiger & Rose (Viki, Chinese)
To Fly with Me (Viki, Chinese)
Tientsin Mystic (Netflix, Chinese)
You Are My Hero (Viki, Chinese)*

AVOID aka “the shit list” 💩

Melting Me Softly
The Birth of a Beauty
Well-Intentioned Love season 1 (S2 is fine & stands alone)

Posters’ Top Scoring 2021 Dramas
Courtesy of Hello’s kdrama spreadsheet, updated by thread regulars. Marks out of 10.

1. The Red Sleeve - 10 (2 votes, more pending)
2. Happiness - 9 (6 votes)
3. Devil Judge - 8.75 (3 votes)
4. Squid Game - 8.63 (12 votes)
5. Navillera - 8.57 (7 votes)

2020’s top scoring dramas
1 - Mr Queen - 9.4 (5 votes)
2 - Parasite - 9.05 (10 Votes)
3 - It's Okay To Not Be Okay - 8.88 (9 Votes)
4 - The Uncanny Counter - 8.50 (4 Votes)
5 - Once Again - 8.42 (6 Votes)

2019’s top scoring dramas:

1. Her Private Life - 9.40 (5 votes)
2. Melo is My Nature - 9.00 (5 votes)

3.= Crash Landing On You, The Crowned Clown, The Lies Within, and The Tale of Nokdu - 8.75 (4 votes)

1. Hotel del Luna - 8.50 (4 votes)

5.= Romance is a Bonus Book, and Search: WWW - 8.17 (6 votes)

We are generally fans of all things Korean, so equally happy to talk about Korean cookery, language, writers, film and music when the mood takes us. We have some ARMY (BTS fans) among our regulars. Some of us are learning Korean, Japanese and/or Mandarin (some more diligently than others, admittedly), so we swap tips and links to language resources. Basically, anything topical goes.

We sometimes resort to acronyms and/or abbreviations of show titles or favourite actors’ names. Don’t be afraid to ask for help/clues if we’re not making sense or have descended into acronym soup.

If you want to join us down the kdrama rabbit hole, welcome! Pull up a chair, say goodbye to early nights and get stuck in!

Am I the only person who didn't get on with Start-up? I gave up on it at ep 8 a long time ago despite my love of the MLs. All the business talk was just boring the pants off me. You know it's time to give up when you look at the length of the episodes and your heart sinks!

Maybe I'll just do what I'm doing with Thirty-nine and watch it at x1.5 speed. The crying and the long silences are much more bearable when each episode is only 40 minutes.

Rowdy I hope the weather stays lovely for you!

My town has been afflicted by sea mist today so some bits are freezing and in other places it is beautifully sunny. We are off to London anyway for a spot of culture, so as soon as I can stop playing a never-ending game of top trumps I can watch a bit more of Weightlifting Fairy.

A life milestone for me yesterday - I am now a member of an official fanclub for the first time ever Looking forward to getting up in the small hours this weekend to watch PTD!

@Saram13

Pol, Boatyard Prestel I''ve only seen about 10 K-dramas in full so far, over the last year or so 🤔 A mix of the newest and 'classics'. 3 currently on the go, and 3 more lined up. Maybe Song Kang will impress me less when I've got more to compare him to😂

I loved Tang Jun-sang and Lee Je-hoon in Move to Heaven (came to that via the glorious CLOY, looking for more TJS). So Signal is on my list too.

Blue Your post about PTD LV has given me concert fever. I was still all 'I like them but don't need to see them live' till pretty recently. But went to the live PTD cinema broadcast (100% joy 😃) and am now poised like a raptor for a tour announcement 😂. They were due to perform v close to here in 2020, so 👀. Sod's Law says it will be when we're on holiday in the UK though 🙄 I definitely have my sights on VIP tickets 😃. DH, while generally very understanding of my varied Korean passions, is totally perplexed 😁

Pretty sure they'll do a tour in late summer/autumn time. They surely have to stop at London! Ticketing is stressful but I'll definitely be trying again. He'll understand if he sees them in person!

@MusiqueAutomatique

A life milestone for me yesterday - I am now a member of an official fanclub for the first time ever Looking forward to getting up in the small hours this weekend to watch PTD!

Totally worth it! I'm still battling jetlag so won't be logging on to watch but I hope they do the cinema shows again for the new tour and album.

Welcome to the hood Musique 👋 Drop by Bunsik on Charing cross road for some overpriced but fun Korean fast food. Then you can buy some overpriced but fun Korean face masks in Nature's Republic next door.

I just watched the first episode of Start Up, what an epic and sad first episode! I'm looking forward to watching the rest, but I hope it's a bit cheerier.

I think Larry's prediction of how Our Blues will play out is probably correct, I love the show so far. I wish we had a truck seller come around our way, it would be so convenient to be able to buy tofu and axes all in the same place, without leaving the village 😄

I know Musique didn’t like all the Start Up businessy bits but I’m really enjoying that side of it. I also like FL’s arc in terms of growing into her role in the start-up and starting to assert herself. There’s a lot to enjoy.

@Rowdythree I'd bet money on it! I am so invested in Our Blues already, I LOVE the actress playing Eun Hui and all the characters are just so real. It's very well written and produced so far.

I have about 3 hours till the kids get home with DH after being away, so I'm wondering whether to get on the Start Up train. Is it sad? I've been avoiding things that are sad, I'm just not ready for it yet.

Not sad-sad. The first episode is good sad, the heart-warming kind.

The big lie is a problem but they are tackling it in a good way.

Larry It's only a little bit sad, I've only watched the first episode, but it feels like it's setting the scene and providing the back story for the rest of the series. Don't be put off by what I said, it's only a tiny bit of the first episode.

I'm also very invested in Our Blues, the characters are very relatable so far

I've plumped for Pachinko, it's gorgeous so far

@polkettle

Welcome to the hood Musique 👋 Drop by Bunsik on Charing cross road for some overpriced but fun Korean fast food. Then you can buy some overpriced but fun Korean face masks in Nature's Republic next door.

Sadly we were already too full with Japanese food by the time we walked past Bunsik Pol but it's good to have a recommendation for our next visit. Thank you!

BlueMooMoo I don't blame you for skipping the online concert, I can't imagine it compares to the real thing! Hope you get over the jetlag soon.

Boaty I am the person least likely to ever start my own business so I am just temperamentally unsuited to Start-up

Darn, it posted before I'd finished. I'm interested to know how it goes from episode 9 onwards.

DH and I have both finished the novel of Pachinko so I think we will start that as soon as we've ground our way through Thirty-nine.

Currently away! Quick! What dramas are you watching!? Only really watching Tomorrow... Need to bank up!! 😂😂😂

I'm currently watching Our Blues, Start Up and One Spring Day @bea

Dang it, DD just pipped me to the post and got to the TV before me 🙄

[quote LarryUnderwood]@Rowdythree I'd bet money on it! I am so invested in Our Blues already, I LOVE the actress playing Eun Hui and all the characters are just so real. It's very well written and produced so far.

I have about 3 hours till the kids get home with DH after being away, so I'm wondering whether to get on the Start Up train. Is it sad? I've been avoiding things that are sad, I'm just not ready for it yet.[/quote]
I guess it depends a bit on what triggers sadness for you. The first episode is like a tragic film. I think I cried at almost every scene with Kim Seon-Ho/Han Ji-Pyeong and halmeoni (grandparent scenes are always heart-rending for me). I'm a bit of an emo though...

I love One Spring Day Rowdy!

I'm watching Our Blues, Pachinko and My Liberation Notes when I get back from Hotland.

There's a few on Viki I have on my watchlist coming soon.

I hope you are having a fab holiday Briiiiick! 🌞

I'm going to start My Liberation Notes over the weekend if I have time 🤞

@sakura06 hmm I might give it a try. I really wanted to watch Itaewon Class but the first 2 episodes did me in, I just couldn't cope with the relentless injustice and tragedy even though I know it was a set up for him going on to greater things.

@LarryUnderwood I didn't get on with Itaewon Class! I really disliked the main female character. And, yes, it was miserable! The first episode of Start Up is miserable in a similar vein, but it gets more hopeful!

Larry and Sakura Itaewon Class had some good bits (PSJ mostly, let's be honest) but overall it wasn't worth the sixteen hours plus of my life. I find it quite hard to stop watching though, I always hope they are going to get better

I'm going to start My Liberation Notes too Rowdy.

I've not watched anything on Viki in months Briiick, what have you got your eye on?

@LarryUnderwood @sakura06 I found Itaewon class quite hard to get into... I loved PSJ character but i didn't get any charm of the 2 FL and didn't get where his quandry lay! I wouldn't have given any of them a second look!

Why are the episodes of Start up so long?! NJH making knitting cool, way before Tom Daley 😆